Wrapping machine



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April 17, 1945. w. B. BRONANDER wRAPPING MACHINE 5 sheds-sheet s Filed Feb. l2, 1942 INVENTOR f/e/m rawamzfef BY e /K ATTORNEYS AP"il 17, 1945- w. B. BRQNANDER 2,373,655

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. l2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @zz-gi,

INVENTOR April 17, 1945- w. B. BRONANDER 2,373,655

WRAPPING' MACHINE Filed Feb. l2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 17, 1945 BUCH bil UU UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to wrapping machines.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and practical wrapping machine so constructed and arranged as to operate at high speed and eiciently and to form a neat, tight package.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is an elevational View of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view showing the Geneva drive for the turret wheel;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank in which the package is wrapped;

Fig. 8 is a perspective elevation of the package after the blank has been folded around the package and secured along one longitudinal edge thereof, before the ends of the package have been closed; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the completed package.

The invention briefly described consists of a wrapping machine having means for feeding a wrapper strip in the path of movement of the articles to be wrapped, means for holding the strip tightly around the top, bottom and one end of the package as it is cut, a turret wheel having radially disposed pockets for receiving the wrappers and articles. means engageable with the rearwardly projecting ends ofthe wrapper to fold these ends across one side of the article, means for discharging the articles and wrappers folded therearound into folding mechanism by means of which the ends of the wrapper are closed and sealed. In connection with this mechanism, means is provided for applying adhesive to the bottom rearwardly extending flap as the article and wrapper are discharged from the flrst feeding means and are fed into the pocket in the turret wheel. Certain novel features are also incorporated in the end ap folding mechanism and in other parts of the mechanism, as will be hereinafter described. Y

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

In the form of the invention particularly illustrated, the machine comprises longitudinal frame members I and vertical frame members II. A hopper I2 is supported above the longitudinal frame members and houses the artices A to be wrapped.

The articles drop by gravity through an opening I3 in a stationary top plate I4 to a bottom plate or table I which is pivotally mounted at I6. The table I5 is engaged by springs I1 and I8 which force it upwardly, thus holding the wrapper tightly against the under surface of the article being wrapped. The upward movement of the table I5 is limited by a bolt I3 having a lock nut thereon.

The articles A which, as above stated, drop by gravity to the table I5, are engaged and fed by feeding members or rods carried by feed chains 26 and 21. The table I5 is provided with an opening 28 through which the wrapper strip W is fed in a manner which will now be described.

The feeding mechanism for feeding a tear strip T and the wrapper strip W in superposed relation is not shown in detail since this mechanism forms no part of the present invention. As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l, the tear strip T is carried by a roll 30 and is fed between feed rolls 3I and 32 and around an idler 33 and thence between feed rolls 34 and 35.

The wrapper strip W is carried by a roll 36 and is led beneath an idler 31 and around the roll 35, passing between the rolls 34 and 35.

As the strip W passes around the idler 31 it is engaged by an H-shaped knife 38 carried by a roll 39 and an H cut is formed therein.

As the strips W and T pass between the rolls 34 and 35 the tear strip T is pushed into a pocket 40 formed in the roll 35 by a projecting lug 4I carried by the roll 34. After passing between the rolls 34 and 35 the tear strip T is cut by a knife 43 carried by a roll 44. The wrapper strip with the superposed tear strip are then fed downwardly between rolls 45 and 46 and the wrapper and tear strip are cut by a knife 41 carried by a roll 43. the knife 41 coacting with a stationary knife 43.

'I'he operation of the knives 41 and 49 is so timed that the strip will not be cut until it has been engaged by the article fed along the support or plate I5 and has been folded beneath the article. The upward pressure of the table I5 will hold the wrapper strip tightly against the upper and lower surfaces of the article as the article is fed between the plate I4 and table I5 and as the wrapper is cut.

The upper plate I4 is interrupted, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the wrapper strip to pass downwardly through an opening formed therein and through the opeing 28 in the lower table I5. As the article and wrapper are fed forwardly the wrapper is folded across the bottom, advance end and top of the article and the article and wrapper are discharged into one of a plurality of radially disposed pockets P carried by an intermittently rotatable turret wheel mounted on a shaft 58.

Each pocket P has a stationary wall 51 and a pivoted wall 58. The pivoted wall is pressed toward the stationary wall by. a spring 58 which is disposed between the wall 58 and a bracket 60.

As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 56 has two turret wheels 55 mounted thereon, these wheels being spaced apart and being provided with alined, exactly similar pockets P. The walls of these pockets receive the end portions of the article and wrapper as the article and wrapper are discharged from the supporting table I5.

As the article and wrapper are fed into the pockets liquid or adhesive is applied to the under surface of the rearwardly projecting lower ap 6|. The upper flap is designated 62. The adhesive is applied in the following manner: As the feeding member or rod pushes the article and wrapper into the pockets the rod passes downwardly and during its downward movement engages the flap 6| and presses the ap against a moistening wick 63 carried by a bracket 64 mounted on a shaft 65. The bracket 64 has a well 66 for the moistening or adhesive material. It will be noted that the under surface of the lower ap 6|, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, is pressed against the wick 63 and is receiving adhesive or solvent therefrom.

From the showing in Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the shaft 65 has mounted on one end thereof an arm 61, the outer end of which is normally held downwardly by a spring 68. In its downward position the arm 61 rests on an arm 68 carried by a spindle 10. If the arm 68 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the arm 61 will be similarly rotated, thus tilting the bracket 64 and moistening wick 63 downwardly out of operative position. This is done manually and when the machine is not in use.

The turret wheels 55 and shaft 56 are rotated intermittently by a Geneva movement which is illustrated particularly in Fig. 6, but the details of which form no part of the present invention.

The main drive shaft of the machine is shown in Fig. l at 15. 'I'his shaft is rotated from any suitable source of power and has mounted thereon a gear 16 which meshes with a gear 11 carried by a shaft 18. The shaft 18, as shown in Fig. 6,

carries a disk 18 on which are mounted a pair of rollers 80 and 8|. These rollers are arranged to engage pear shaped lugs 82 radially mounted on a disk 83 carried by the shaft 56. By means of this Geneva movement the shaft 56 will be rotated intermittently in increments of movement, the rotation of movement in each instance being sufficient to rotate the shaft through one-sixth of a revolution or 60, it being understood that this angle of movement is determined by the number and spacing of the radially arranged pockets P.

After the shaft has been rotated through two increments of movement or through 120, the outwardly projecting ends 6| and 62 of the wrapper are folded against the outer surface of the article in the manner which will now be described. The flap 6| is rst engaged by an arcuate folding plate 85 carried by an arm 86 rotatably mounted on a shaft 88 (Figs. 2 and 4). The arm 86 has secured thereto a sleeve 88 which carries at its outer end an arm 80. The arm 80 is pivoted at 8| to a link 82 which is pivoted at its opposite end to an eccentric strap 83 mounted on an eccentric 84 carried by a shaft 85. As the eccentric rotates the link 82 will be oscillated, thus moving the folding plate 85 alternately in opposite directions. Since the surface engaged by the plate 85 has liquid or adhesive thereon the plate is grooved, as shown at 86, to provide spaced portions for engaging the ap.

'Ihe flap 62 is folded downwardly on the flap 6| by an arcuate plate 88 carried by an arm 88 xed to the shaft 88.

'I'he shaft 88 has secured to its outer end an arm |00 to which is pivoted a link |0|, the other end of which is pivoted to an eccentric strap |02 mounted on an eccentric |03 carried by the shaft 85. The eccentric is so designed that the plate 88 will be moved in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 2 after the flap 6| has been folded and plate 88 will engage and fold the flap 62 downwardly over the flap 6| before the ap 6| has been entirely released or disengaged by the plate 85.

In order to facilitate and expedite the sealing of the end flaps the plate 88 is mounted above a heater |05 carried by arms |06 and |01 mounted on the shaft 88. The arms |06 and |01 are held in stationary position by a rod |08 which extends through the lower ends thereof and is xed to the upright frame of the machine. Suitable insulation ||0 is preferably provided between the arms |06 and |01 and above the folding plate 98.

The shaft has mounted thereon a gear ||2 which meshes with the gear 11 on the shaft 18.

Shaft 18 has also mounted thereon a gear ||3 which meshes with a gear ||4 carried by a shaft ||5. This shaft has secured thereto sprocket wheels ||6 on which are mounted chains ||1 which carry feeding members or lugs ||6. The chains ||1 are also mounted on idler sprocket wheels |20.

The lugs I8 pass upwardly between the alined pockets P on the turret whel 55 and engage and feed the articles and wrappers which have been folded therearound from the pockets to a support or table |2|.

The shaft |5 has also mounted thereon outside the chains ||1 a pair of disks |25 and |26 (Fig. 4). Each disk has projecting from the periphery thereof a plurality of blades |21 which are adapted to engage and tuck the wrapper at the rear edge of the package, it .being understood that the ends of the wrapper extend beyond the ends of the package at this point in the operation of the machine, as shown in Fig. 8.

The front ends of the wrapper are tucked by stationary tuckers |30 disposed at the sides of the support |2|.

It will be understood that after the ends of the wrapper have been tucked a flap will be projected at each end in alinement with the upper and lower surfaces of the wrapper. These aps are folded inwardly to close the wrapper by means of slots |3| and |32 in walls disposed at the sides of the support |2|.

The feed chains 26 and 21 are carried by sprocket wheels |35, |36 mounted on a shaft |31. This shaft has also secured thereto a gear |38 which meshes with the gear 11 on shaft 18. The chains 26 and 21 are also led around sprockets |38, |40 and |4|.

The feeding and cutting mechanism for the wrapper strip and tear strip are driven by suitable gear driving connections from the shaft |45 which carries the roll 48 and knife 41. Shaft |45 has mounted thereon a. gear |46 which meshes with a gear ||2 mounted on the shaft 85.

The operation of the machine can be briefly summarized as follows: The articles A drop by gravity on the pivoted supporting table |5 and are fed along this table and beneath the plate I4 by feeding members 25. The springs I'I hold the plate I5 upwardly into engagement with the wrapper and press the wrapper firmly between the upper and lower surfaces of the article and the plate I4 and table I5, respectively.

As the article and wrapper are discharged from the table I5 and are fed into the pockets P the bottom ap 6I is engaged and bent downwardly against the wick 63 which applies liquid or adhesive thereto.

The turret wheel 55 which carries the pockets P is rotated intermittently by thev Geneva movement described and when the article and wrapper have been moved through two increments or 120 the folding plate 85 is moved from the dotted line position shown at 85A in Fig. 2 to the full line position shown at 85. thus engaging the ap BI and folding the flap downwardly against the side of the article. Thereafter the folding plate 88 is moved in a clockwise direction, thus folding the other flap 62 downwardly against the flap GI. The folding plate 98 is heated by the heater |05 and thus assists in expediting the sealing of the flaps 6I and 62.

The turret wheel then moves through another increment of movement or 60 and the tuckers I21 and the stationary tuckers |30 operate to tuck the projecting ends of the wrapper. The heater has an arcuate surface I05A which engages the folded aps 6I, 62 during this movement. The article and wrapper are then moved along the support I2I by the feeding lugs II8 and during this movement the end flaps are folded to closed position by the slots I3I and |32. Heat sealers may be provided beyond the folding slots to facilitate and complete the sealing operation.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been .particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine, a movably mounted supporting table for receiving articles to be fed and wrapped, a stationary top plate above and spaced from said table, means for resiliently moving the table toward the plate, said plate and table having alined openings to receive a wrapper strip, means for feeding articles along said table, and means for feeding a wrapper strip through the openings and in the path of movement of the articles fed along the table.

2. In a wrapping machine, a movably mounted supporting table for receiving articles to be fed and wrapped, a stationary top plate above and spaced from said table, means for resiliently moving the table toward the plate, said plate and table having alined openings to receive a wrapper strip, means for feeding articles along said table, means for feeding a wrapper strip through the openings and in the path of movement of the articles fed along the table, and means operable to sever the wrapper strip after said strip has been engaged and positioned on an article fed along the table and while the wrapper strip is engaged between the article and the stationary plate.

3A In a wrapping machine, a pivotally mounted supporting table for receiving articles to be fed and wrapped, a stationary top plate above and spaced from said table, means for resiliently moving the tatble toward the plate, said plate and L LvU" Uil table having alined openings to receive a wrapper strip, means for feeding articles along said table. and means for feeding a wrapper strip through the openings and in the path of movement of the articles fed along the table.

4. In a wrapping machine, means for feeding articles to be wrapped, means for disposing wrappers across the advanced end, the top and bottom of said articles, a plurality of movable pockets, saidv article feeding means being arranged to push the articles into said pockets with both ends of the wrappers projecting rearwardly from the pockets beyond the rear ends of the articles therein, and a stationary liquid applying device stationed below the lower rearwardly projecting ends of the wrappers, said article feeding means being arranged to depress said lower projecting ends of the wrappers across the liquid applying device.

5. In a wrapping machine, means for feeding articles to be wrapped, said feeding means comprising endless driving means and feeding members carried thereby, means for disposing Wrappers across the advanced end, the top and bottom of said articles, a plurality of movable pockets,

'said article feeding means being arranged to push the articles into said pockets with both ends of the wrappers projecting rearwardly from the pockets beyond the rear ends of the articles therein, and a stationary liquid applying device stationed below the lower rearwardly projecting ends of the wrappers, said article feeding members being arranged to depress said lower projecting ends of the wrappers across the liquid applying device.

6. In a wrapping machine, means for feeding articles to be wrapped a stationary top plate arranged to engage the upper sides of the articles, said plate being constructed with a transverse slot, means for continuously feeding a wrapper strip through said slot across the path of movement of the articles, and resiliently actuated means for forcing the articles upwardly against said guide and positioning and pressing the wrappers against the upper and under surfaces of the articles as the articles are being fed.

7. In a wrapping machine, a pocket, means for feeding articles to be wrapped into said pocket, means for disposing wrappers across the top, advance end and bottom of said articles with the ends of the wrappers extending rearwardly from the pocket beyond the rear ends of the articles, a liquid applying device positioned below the lower rearwardly projecting ends of the wrappers, said article feeding means being arranged to move said lower end of the wrapper onto the liquid applying device, and means for moving the liquid applying device out of operative position.

8. In a wrapping machine, a pocket, means for feeding articles to be wrapped into said pocket, said feeding means comprising a pair of axially alined spaced sprockets positioned near the pocket, endless chains having straight runs passing around said sprockets and a transverse member affixed to the chains, means for disposing a. wrapper strip across the path of movement of the articles whereby an article and a wrapper strip are fed into the pocket by the transverse member while on a straight run ofthe chains with the ends of the wrapper extending from the pocket, a liquid applying device parallel with and at one side of the pocket, said feeding member being arranged to move one of the extending ends of the wrapper onto the liquid applying device as the chains run around the sprockets.

VITILI-IELM B. BRONANDER.. 

